Ipswich preview and tips: Friday, February 22

by Craig Sheppard (Puntersland)

Ipswich hosts seven races on FridayImage: Racing Queensland

The Ipswich Turf Club hosts a seven-race program this Friday.

Temperatures have been in the high 30s this week but there is a chance of showers on raceday. The track should be no worse than a soft rating. However, it will pay to monitor the weather with Cyclone Oma off the Queensland coast. The rail is out 10m the entire course.

Limited experience including three youngsters on debut here that haven’t been seen publicly makes for a race where it’s hard to map the speed. Of the raced brigade, Investible looks most likely to lead.

This isn’t the strongest field of two-year-olds which leads me to the Tony Sears trained Devil’s Temptation (2). Sears can produce an unseen debutante for a first-up win and this could be the case here off the nice draw.

Timely Bel (10) settled back when on debut over 900m at the Gold Coast but got to the line nicely for a 1.25 length second. She’ll be improved second-up but getting back at Ipswich over this distance when the rail is out, isn’t ideal.

Investible (4) went forward at Rockhampton when on debut and fought on well for third over 1100m. He’ll get a great run on the speed for Dale Smith and with increased fitness can fight out the finish.

Exploration (3) improved last start when finishing third over 900m at the Gold Coast. Timely Bel finished just in front of him that day. He’ll need some luck from the wide gate.

Verdict: Expect a bold showing from Devil’s Temptation but happy to watch on.

Marston will look to cross from an outside gate and take up the running. I Am Lexus and Champagne Vega will settle handy.

I Am Lexus (1) found the line well when resuming at the Sunshine Coast over 1000m. He was nosed out on the line but considering he was 58-weeks between runs, there was plenty of merit about the effort. He’ll be fitter here second-up and should race on the speed from barrier 3.

Marston (2) is a having his first run in Queensland after previously racing with Ciaron Maher and David Eustace in Victoria. He finished 2.8 lengths off the winner at Caulfield in a significantly harder race. He won in heavy conditions two starts back. Looks right in this.

Elusive Melody (4) broke through for her maiden win at the Sunshine Coast last start. She found the line strongly after settling back. The previous start she put in a solid effort in the Magic Millions maiden race.

Champagne Vega (3) is first-up after a 20-week break. He won his only start the start prior to the spell.

Hinano can drive through from the inside barrier and lead. Extraction, Zodiac Star and possibly Boom Rocker can all race in close attendance.

Starbuster (1) has been racing in consistent form recently with placings in his past three starts. Last start he found the front in the straight at the Sunshine Coast but was overpowered late. He was dropping back from 1800m that day when taking on the 1400m so it was a fair effort. He drew a wide gate that day but comes up with a better draw in barrier 3 here. He shouldn’t be too far away in the run.

Knuckle Up (3) was solid when resuming last start at the Gold Coast. He settled a long last but did get home quite nicely. He’ll be fitter here second-up.

Hinano (5) led them into the straight last start at the Sunshine Coast over 1400m. He boxed on fairly once challenged which was encouraging. He’s drawn ideally in barrier 1 and should be able to lead. The last 100m or so though he could be suspect.

Arc Of Gold (6) improved last start when finishing off well over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast. She’s steps up to this distance for the first time so there is a query about her handling it.

Mighty Moose looks the likely leader. Countess Natalie, Monte Santo and Miss Krey Zee will be tasked with carting the rest of the field into the race.

Smokin’ Hussay (10) looks ready to break through for her first win after a number of solid efforts. Last start she ran on strongly despite laying in to finish 1.25 lengths from the winner. Last time she raced over this course and distance she drew an outside gate but really finished off nicely. If she can settle not too far off them then she’ll be hard to hold off.

Monte Santo (3) improved last start to finish a length second at the Gold Coast over 1300m. A repeat of that effort will see her competitive here. She should race in a handy position from the nice draw.

Countess Natalie (5) will be fitter for her first-up effort at the Gold Coast over 1200m where she finished 1.6 lengths from the winner. Last preparation she improved significantly second-up.

Mighty Moose (6) was unlucky last start when finishing 2.6 lengths from the winner over 1200m here. He was caught three-wide so there was merit in the run. In his favour here is that he will most likely lead this field and give them something to catch.

Reset’s Son will look to work over and lead from his outside gate. Dixie Preacher and Gwapo will look to hold their positions from favourable draws.

Iron Craft (3) found the line well but was no match for Reckless Choice when finishing third over 1600m at Doomben last start. That was a Class 3 on a Saturday and he now drops back to a Class 2. Two starts back at the Sunshine Coast he looked the winner but was tackled in the shadows of the post. He’s one of the major players here.

Reset’s Son (7) was game in defeat last start where he finished just under a length from the winner at Doomben over 1650m. He led that day and looks likely to employ similar tactics here. If he can control the speed then he may prove hard to run down.

Rains Aplenty (4) is up in class after winning at the Sunshine Coast over 1600m last start. The way he found the line suggests that he is more than capable of measuring up.

Legal Girl (2) can measure up against this field based on her recent effort at the Sunshine Coast. She’s now having her fourth run back from a long break so should be ready to fire.

There’s very few horses engaged here that have shown an inclination to go forward in races. That makes it difficult to map the speed but Show Deck looks the most likely to lead.

Follow The Money (5) finished 3.2 lengths from the winner at the Gold Coast over 1400m last start. He was doing his best work late suggesting the rise to 1710m will suit. In a race with limited speed, he shouldn’t be too far away in the run.

Show Deck (8) hasn’t been too far away in recent runs. With two 1800m runs under her belt, she should have the stamina now to roll along in front or close to the front and give a good sight.

Sheindlin (6) is only lightly raced so has room for improvement. He was thumped by 10.5 lengths last start when finishing second over 1300m. He did settle back and get home suggesting the extra distance here will suit.

Lucadeal (1) can only improve on his debut effort where he finished 4.55 lengths from the winner over 1300m. Respecting the Tony Gollan/Brad Stewart combination.

Money Talk (2) resumed with a nice win at Warwick over 1350m last start. He was unwanted by the market that day but finished off nicely. He is drawn well and should be able to find a nice spot in the run. He’s up in class but there’s no reason he can’t go on with it.

Grandioso (4) went forward at the Gold Coast last start and battled on fairly for a 1.2 length fourth. He’s never too far away so I don’t expect anything different here.

Portsea (5) resumed with a solid effort at the Sunshine Coast over 1200m. He doesn’t win out of turn but looks competitive against this field.

Never In Doubt (1) won over 1600m at the Sunshine Coast two starts back. He struggled last start over 1800m in stronger company so will appreciate dropping back to this level and distance.